Stephen Jones says Cowboys, Micah Parsons remain apart; Jerry Jones is good with handshake deal

When is a deal between the Dallas Cowboys and defensive end Micah Parsons not a deal?

When ink has yet to hit the paper, when owner Jerry Jones and vice president Stephen Jones have different views of the negotiations and when the Parson’s agent has yet to be included.

Although Jerry Jones confirmed a DLLS Cowboys report at the NFL Owner’s Meetings last month by saying that he and Parsons have had the meetings of the minds on a handshake deal regarding a contract extension for the All-Pro edge rusher, Stephen Jones said Tuesday that the Cowboys and Parsons remain a part on the contract terms.

“You look around the league at most of these players who are getting these very top contracts, it does take time ultimately to get there, and believe me, if we could sign Micah to a number we wanted to sign him to, we do it right now,” Stephen Jones said Tuesday. “But right now, there’s a difference in what we feel is the right number, and what he feels like is the right number.”  

Jerry Jones, however, has a different view of the situation.

According to a source, Jerry Jones and Parsons have a handshake deal on a contract extension that would make him the highest paid non quarterback in the NFL, surpassing Cincinnati receiver Jamar Chase’s deal pays him $40.25 million annually.

Jerry Jones didn’t back down on that deal on Tuesday and said the two sides were close enough to get something done.

“I know about the years, and I know about the guarantees,” Jerry Jones said Tuesday. “I know about those kinds of things, and really it’s close enough to ….work on a number. I mean, I’m comfortable with it. I don’t need to adjust.”

Of the Cowboys have yet to seriously engage Parsons’ agent David Mulugheta in the negotiations and Parsons has said he will not do a deal without his agent.

Jerry Jones has said he wanted to see Parsons become a better leader and show up for the team’s offseason program, OTAs and minicamp to justify paying him a record deal.

And Parsons has done his part so far, he was a participant for the first week of the team’s offseason program. And Jones firmly believes a deal will get done.

“The assumption here is that we’re going to get something done, and so he knows or should know how important his being around here working is to leadership,” Jerry Jones said. “It’s a big deal. It’s the main reason why I’ve kind taken some of the attitude I’ve taken about this thing. Micah just has to be elevated in his leadership and will be. Or it will be a downer when he gets his anticipated contract. It will be a downer if he does not elevate leadership.”

“When” remains the operative word.

And while Jerry Jones believes an extension will get worked out he said he seen “nothing” that gives him confidence something will get done before the start of training camp in July.

Jerry Jones said he is not pressed to get a deal done early. It will happen when it happens.

“Frankly in my life, I have done better because of the tolerance for ambiguity that I have running the quarterback all the way out and deciding whether to pitch or turn it up himself rather than take the first option and hand it off,” Jerry Jones said. “I’ve done better at the end. Have I had a blood letting out there a few times? Yes, I have, but that’s the reason why you do it because you’re trying to reduce the amount of outdo so that you have some left to do it again. … You might be able to get him for less if you put that five-year contract on him. But you also could eat some players you might wish you didn’t put the money on too.”